Major League Baseball (MLB) is advocating for an international draft, believing that it would significantly reduce corruption in the signing process of Latin American players—a position that has been historically opposed by the players’ association.
Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred emphasized the need for transparency in the current system, stating that it has become necessary to eliminate secret deals which lead to violations of league rules surrounding player signings.
“This is not about the numbers or the economics,” Manfred remarked. “It’s fundamentally a transparency issue that pertains to stopping violations in our signing market.”
Presently, MLB teams secure verbal agreements with players from countries like the Dominican Republic and Venezuela even before they reach the legal signing age of 16. This typically includes arrangements made with players as young as 13 or 14.
The beginning of this year’s international signing period commenced in January for players born between September 1, 2007, and August 31, 2008.
Issues of exploitation, including predatory lending practices, are rampant, and the league has uncovered incidents of age fraud. One notable instance involved a player who was falsely claimed to be 14 when in fact he was 19—a case that emerged when he reached a verbal agreement to sign with San Diego for 2027.
MLB has invested heavily in policing these infractions, with Manfred admitting, “We’ve spent tens of millions annually in pursuing wrongdoing, and while we manage to catch some, there’s likely a significant amount that remains undetected.”
Some Dominican officials share Manfred’s stance regarding the need for a draft. Still, the implementation of such a system hinges on the collective bargaining agreement between MLB and its players, meaning the league cannot independently introduce a draft without player consent.
During previous negotiations for the collective bargaining agreement in 2021-22, MLB suggested instituting a 20-round draft that would start in 2024, complete with fixed bonus structures and a significant financial guarantee for the draft process.
The players countered with their proposal, advocating for a higher guarantee, more flexibility in negotiating bonuses, and the establishment of a joint enforcement committee to collaborate with management.
However, the players’ union ultimately rejected MLB’s final draft proposal in July 2022, postponing any further conversations on the topic until the next labor contract negotiations in December 2026.
Tony Clark, the head of the players’ union, has voiced skepticism about the necessity of an international draft. He believes the proposed draft framework would not efficiently protect players or ensure they receive more accurate compensation for their talents compared to the existing structure.
Recent spending figures illustrate that, without a draft, teams allocated $181 million on international amateurs in 2024, and this number increased to $199 million for this year.
Research from MLB finds that the likelihood of international amateurs making it to the major leagues is low, with only 6% of those signed between 2012 and 2016 actually reaching the big leagues, and just 30% of those who received seven-figure bonuses.
Clark contests the notion that a draft would rectify ongoing issues in Latin America’s signing landscape. He stated that current practices involve clubs and scouts engaging with very young prospects, setting the stage for informal agreements that lack enforceability.
He argues that it is improbable for players and their families to disregard these lucrative conversations, which argues against the purported need for a structured draft as a solution to these problems.
Although the international draft remains an important issue, it is just one of many subjects in discussions between MLB and the players’ union. Central to these negotiations is how international spending relates to a system that also impacts major league free agents.
Players frequently encounter qualifying offers from their previous teams, which can deter the willingness of other teams to sign free agents due to potential loss of draft picks and international signing allocations.
Scott Boras has pointed to this limitation, mentioning its stifling effects on players like third baseman Matt Chapman and pitchers Blake Snell and Nick Martinez, who find their market value impaired because of these stipulations.
In past discussions regarding the possibility of an international draft, MLB offered to abolish the qualifying offer system, but it failed to influence the players’ stance. However, the topic could be revisited as part of the negotiations for the upcoming collective bargaining agreement.
